I have a question about clipper blades....what does the letters behind the number mean? F? SS? S? HT? I was asked by someone wanting to buy clippers and I didn't know....I think F means Finishing. Which is better and which is safer? Which brand is better and which lasts longer? I do know that the lower the number the longer the hair is left right? The higher the number the shorter?

I have no idea about letters- mine only seem to have numbers? I use Andis brand. The number corresponds to the coat length, but I always have to look it up on a table- or just use the ones Danielle tells me to use! That method has worked pretty well for me!

I think the most important thing for longevity is to keep the blades clean and lubricated. I have a blade cleaner/ cooler in a jar that you dip and run the clipper for a seconds.

I have no idea about letters- mine only seem to have numbers? I use Andis brand. The number corresponds to the coat length, but I always have to look it up on a table- or just use the ones Danielle tells me to use! That method has worked pretty well for me!

I think the most important thing for longevity is to keep the blades clean and lubricated. I have a blade cleaner/ cooler in a jar that you dip and run the clipper for a seconds.

Anyhow, hope you get a better answer than mine

Now, look, I COULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS, word for word! "I just do what Danielle says," yup, same here!

Oh, except, she advised me not to bother with the Cool Lube stuff. Is that what you are referring to?

I bought new professional clippers in Dec, which I 'think' I have the nerve up to use first time this weekend. Came with a free extra blade, an FC, and I have no clue what it is, ha haa.

Can someone hurry up and answer this please as I have a set of clippers that I'd like to try this weekend too, maybe , I've had them for almost a year now! I really am too chicken to use them but I will when the warmer weather comes, before the heat of the summer as I'm afraid I might cut too short. Right now I use them bladeless to clean up the foot pads, I find it so much quicker and easier than scissors, other than that they sit in the box.

I guess bladeless is the wrong word, I have a set that has attachments for length, so what I meant is if I don't add an attachment at all and just use the cutter bare. Maybe I should have said gaurdless, if that is even a word, does that make sense?

If you have quality / professional clippers, use the #10 blade for the paw pads, sanitary clip, and add the #4 comb for the face. Use the #30 with a #2 comb attachment for the rest of the dog. - per my instructions from Danielle!

I guess bladeless is the wrong word, I have a set that has attachments for length, so what I meant is if I don't add an attachment at all and just use the cutter bare. Maybe I should have said gaurdless, if that is even a word, does that make sense?

Oh, OK, that makes sense. I have to admit, I'm always scared to use the clipper on his paws, so I thought maybe you had a way of doing it that I could try.

Do NOT use skip tooth blades! In the hands of a novice, these are EXTREMELY dangerous and can very seriously injure your pet! Always, always use finish blades. The difference is the spacing between the teeth of the blade. Finish blades have much narrower tooth gaps, which makes it far less likely your pet's skin will feed into the cutting edge. Skip tooth blades were made for rough cuts before a bath, which was how things were done "in the olden days." It is far better for your blades and health to work on clean hair, so wash first and clip with finish blades.

Personally I prefer steel blades to ceramic, though there are groomers who will have different opinions.

#10 for pads and sanitary areas. This is about the safest blade (clipper or shear) you can use on a pet. The teeth are very closely spaced, yet there is enough metal left to keep the blade off of the pet's skin. When you go shorter (higher numbers)you start getting into the surgical blade lengths, which have closely spaces teeth, but little to no metal guard above the blade (they are literally shaving to the skin). I have had countless assistants clip countless pads and bellies with #10 blades, but I can count the injuries - it is very hard to nick them with that blade (and the injuries I have seen have been very minor compared to other bladed tools).

As to which blade to use on the body or face: that will depend entirely on what the end goal is. Sandie likes her crew short but not bald. Others like more fluff. I like to recommend the #30 blade with a guard comb set as you can get the blade and the set for the cost of 2 blades, but it gives you 8 blade lengths instead of just 2.

As for brands, the big names are Andis, Oster, and Geib. I personally have only Andis and Geib blades (all my shears are Geib as well).

EDIT: Yes, please do not use aerosol lubricant on your blades. VERY unhealthy for anyone with a pair of lungs, and extremely flammable, not to mention they contain no oil (are composed of propane and alcohol). To prolong the life of your blades, they need to be oiled regularly. Oiled blades stay cooler longer as they run with less friction. You can use a disinfectant dip in addition to the oil, but please, for health, safety, and the life of your tools, avoid aerosol coolants.